7655th Security Council Meeting: Situation in Somalia

Security Council authorizes mandate extension for United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, adopting resolution 2275 (2016) 7655th meeting.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 00:02:35
• Production Date: 24 March 2016
• Asset Language: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN SOMALIA - UNSOM
• Subject Topical: SOMALIA SITUATION
• Geographic Subject: SOMALIA
• MAMS Id: 1589590
• Parent Id: 1589279

Description

The Security Council decided today to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) until 31 March 2017.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2275 (2016), the Council underscored the importance of UNSOM’s provision of United Nations good offices in support of the Federal Government of Somalia’s peace and reconciliation process, with particular regard to the completion of State-formation and constitutional reviews, as well as preparation of an inclusive, free, fair and transparent electoral process in 2016 and universal elections by 2020.

Welcoming commitments by President Hassan Sheikh and the Federal Government to an inclusive and credible electoral process in August 2016, in line with the Mogadishu Declaration of 16 December 2015, the Council called upon all leaders of existing and emerging federal member states to cooperate fully with the Government in implementing it.

Also by the text, the Council underlined its expectation that there would be no extension of electoral process timelines for either the executive or legislative branches. It called upon all key actors and institutions in Somalia, including Parliament, to engage constructively to ensure progress on Vision 2016 before the 2016 electoral process. The Council stressed the importance of adhering to the political road map between now and 2020, in order to ensure one-person-one-vote elections by 2020.

The Council also underlined the importance of security-sector reform, particularly the rapid and effective development of the Somali National Army, including the planned and coordinated integration of regional forces, to help facilitate more effective army participation in joint operations with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), thereby enabling federal security forces to take on greater responsibility in maintaining peace and security as well as protecting citizens. The Council welcomed the commitment by the Federal Government and emerging federal states to establish basic policing services across the country.

Strongly condemning recent attacks by Al-Shabaab and expressing serious concern over the ongoing threat posed by that terrorist group, the Council reiterated its determination to support efforts to reduce that threat, in accordance with applicable international law.

Reiterating its concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia, the high number of refugees and internally displaced persons and their ongoing eviction, the Council called upon the Government and all relevant actors to create the conditions suitable to the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons, with the support of the international community.

The meeting began at 10:06 a.m. and ended at 10:08 a.m.